Figures reveal how the three Welsh Fire and Rescue Services have been called into action 110 times for “bariatric assists” in the past two years.

Firefighters have been called to help ambulance crews lift, move or release dozens of patients – because they were so fat.

Figures reveal how the three Welsh Fire and Rescue Services have been called into action 110 times for “bariatric assists” in the past two years.

Bariatric assists occur when paramedics need help moving or releasing someone because of their weight.

There were 54 incidents in 2010/11 and there have been 56 incidents in 2011/12.

Crews in South Wales have by far carried out the most bariatric assists, 35 this year alone. Last year the fire service were called to 40 incidents and 46 in 2010. The figures were revealed following a Freedom of Information request.

The specialist call-outs have become so common that South Wales Fire & Rescue Service has developed a specialist bariatric course at their training centre in Malpas, Newport.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “These types of incidents are attended between 30 to 50 times per year and generally involve a multi agency response along with the Ambulance Service.

“The training includes special rescue techniques and medical considerations for bariatric persons requiring removal from their properties, etc for medical purposes.

“Personnel receive this bespoke training to ensure the appropriate expertise to deal with this incident type anywhere in South Wales.”

To support incidents where mechanical lifting is required, the service has even developed a specialist lifting unit made up of a 4x4 vehicle with on-board crane.

More than half of adults in Wales are overweight or obese, according to latest figures.

A Welsh Health Survey conducted in September said the problem affects 57% of adults, with 22% being obese.

In children, 35% are considered overweight or obese (19% obese).

Other findings in this year’s survey include: 43% of adults reported drinking above recommended guidelines on at least one day in the past week, with 27% reporting drinking twice the daily guidelines (binge-drinking). And 34% of adults said their day-to-day activities were limited because of a health problem.

Cindy Marsh, Consultant in Public Health for Public Health Wales, said Welsh fire and ambulance services were only likely to see bariatric incidents increasing.

She said: “Obesity is a major public health concern – the proportion of adults in Wales who are above their healthy weight is increasing.”

She also warned of the condition’s short-term and long-term impacts on health.

“It can cause a wide range of health problems from breathlessness and joint pain to heart disease, cancers and stroke – which can lead to an early death,” the consultant said.

“It can also have a psychological impact on people, lowering their confidence and self-esteem.

“Prevention is always better than cure and Public Health Wales along with our local and national partners, lead health improvement programmes that try to reduce the risk of people becoming obese.

“These include a range of projects to encourage people of all ages to eat more healthily and get involved in regular physical activity.”

Reports this week have also revealed that hospitals are having to invest millions in “supersize” equipment suited to morbidly obese patients.

Most hospitals do not have access to MRI or CT scanners capable of taking the heaviest patients, weighing over 35 stone.

As an emergency measure, they will have to rely on scanners usually operated by vets.

Hospitals in the US are already calling zoos to use their scanners – built for lions and gorillas.

Writing in The Royal College of Surgeons Bulletin, Sally Norton, a consultant bariatric surgeon, warned: “Failure to provide required imaging may lead to delay in diagnosis or inappropriate surgery – and, occasionally, enquiries into the potential use of veterinary or zoological scanners, with resultant loss of dignity for the patient.”

Ms Norton said: “In the US, hospitals are ringing up zoos to ask, ‘Can we use your scanner?

“Our obesity problem is going the way of the US, so it could happen here too.”

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